Players in the NFL have already been named to the Pro Bowl, and of course, several players were snubbed. One of which is Antoine Winfield Jr., as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ safety has been one of the best in the league this season. He let the naysayers know with a touchdown-saving play in Week 18 against the Carolina Panthers.

It was a truly brilliant play from Winfield. DJ Chark reached for the endzone, however, the Buccaneers' star got a hand on the ball and knocked it loose. The ball bounced out of bounds and it turned what would have been a touchdown, into a touchback. It was a huge swing play for Tampa Bay.

Only a true superstar would be able to make a play like that. On top of that, forcing the ball loose is nothing new to Antoine Winfield Jr. After forcing that fumble against the Panthers, the Buccaneers safety officially leads the league in fumble recoveries and ties the league lead for fumble recoveries.

“Currently, Antoine Winfield Jr. leads the NFL in fumble recoveries (four) and is tied for the league in forced fumbles (six).”

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GM Jason Licht in the middle, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Marshawn Kneeland, Malik Washington around him, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wallpaper in the background

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Zach Frazier (West Virginia), Christian Haynes (UConn), Spencer Rattler (South Carolina) in action around a Buccaneers logo and a 2024 NFL Draft background.

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Randy Gregory as a silhouette. Todd Bowles

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You see a stat like that and you have to wonder how Antoine Winfield Jr. could be snubbed from the Pro Bowl. He's been an absolute monster this season. On top of the eye-opening fumble stats, the Buccaneers' star has also recorded 117 total tackles, five sacks, and three interceptions. Each of those stats are career highs for Winfield.

Those are Defensive Player of the Year type of numbers. Maybe Winfield will receive more recognition next season, as it feels wrong the Buccaneers' star isn't highlighted more often.